All My Friends Are Leaving Sacramento. Should I Go Too?

Over the last few years I’ve watched friends and clients pack up and leave the greater Sacramento area for places like Texas, Idaho, Arizona, and other states. Some are chasing lower costs, some want different politics, and some are simply ready for a change of pace.

When you see enough people go, it’s natural to ask: “Should I leave Sacramento too?”

I’ve lived here for 49 years and spent 23 of those years as a real estate broker helping people both relocate to Sacramento and move away from it. I’ve heard all the reasons on both sides. This isn’t a hype piece or a hit piece. It’s an honest look at the good, the bad, and how to decide if the Sacramento area still fits your life.

The Hard Truth: Traffic, Heat, and Rising Costs

Let’s start with the tough stuff, because if you move here without understanding this, you’ll be frustrated quickly.

Traffic & construction

Traffic in the greater Sacramento area is not what it was 10, 20, or 30 years ago. If you’re coming in on I-80 from Roseville during rush hour, it can be brutal. The same goes for Highway 50 toward Folsom. What should be a 15-minute drive easily turns into 30–40 minutes, sometimes close to an hour.

On top of that, there’s construction everywhere: highway widening, new interchanges, new subdivisions, road repairs that never seem to end. Highway 50 has felt like one long orange cone zone for years. Older neighborhoods, like parts of Fair Oaks where I live, also have rougher roads and potholes that can knock your car out of alignment.

Summer heat

Then there’s the heat. We average about 23 days a year over 100°F. Some years are milder, some years are hotter, but you will feel summer here. If you’re coming from the Bay Area, the Pacific Northwest, or another cooler climate, it can be an adjustment.

Personally, I’d still rather deal with hot summers than shoveling snow and driving on icy roads all winter. For me, that takes most of the Midwest and East Coast off the list. But this is one of those lifestyle trade-offs you have to be honest about.

Growth, Politics, and the Cost of Living

After the 2008 housing crash, homebuilding slowed dramatically, but our population didn’t. We never fully caught up on housing. Fast-forward to today and we’ve got:

• Limited inventory relative to demand
• Higher prices across most California markets
• Locals who are frustrated with growth, traffic, and change

Many new developments in Placer and El Dorado counties come with extra costs like Mello-Roos taxes and higher utility bills (especially if you’re on PG&E). Once you head into the foothills, fire insurance becomes a big factor too. Insurance in California in general isn’t cheap, and fire-prone areas can feel especially pricey.

At the same time, compared to coastal California, greater Sacramento is still one of the more affordable regions if you want to stay in-state. Is it cheap? No. Is it often a better value than the Bay Area or many parts of SoCal? In a lot of cases, yes.

Why I’m Still Here (And Why I Chose Fair Oaks)

With all that said, I’m still here. I still genuinely love this area.

I chose Fair Oaks very intentionally. I wanted:

• Older, mature neighborhoods
• Larger lots and big trees
• No HOA and no Mello-Roos taxes
• Quick access to the American River and the bike trail

My home sits on about a third of an acre. I’m roughly a 5–10 minute walk from the American River Bike Trail. I can be in nature quickly, even though I live in a metro area of over 2 million people. That balance of space, trees, and access to the river is a huge reason I stay.

I’ve watched this region grow. Places I used to ride my bike or take my CJ7 4x4 through open fields are now major subdivisions and shopping centers. Elk Grove went from “small town with one grocery store” to one of the largest cities in the county. Folsom Ranch didn’t even exist 15 years ago; now it’s a full master-planned community.

Growth brings traffic, higher costs, and change. You can’t control that. What you can control is which pocket you live in and how you experience the area.

Sacramento’s Biggest Advantage: Location & Variety

For me, the biggest selling point of the greater Sacramento area is still location and lifestyle variety.

• Lake Tahoe: About 90 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes from my door in Fair Oaks, depending on traffic and how I drive. Skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and some of the best views in the country.
• Napa Valley: About 90 minutes to incredible wineries, restaurants, and scenery.
• El Dorado County Wine Country: Roughly 30 minutes to relaxed, underrated wineries.
• The coast: About 3 hours to the ocean and beach towns, a totally different landscape.

Within 30–40 minutes of Sacramento you can go from urban streets to foothills, rivers, lakes, farmland, or pine-covered hills. That kind of variety isn’t typical in most metro areas.

On a daily basis, I get to enjoy the American River Parkway. It’s 32 miles of paved trail from Discovery Park all the way to Folsom Lake. I bike it, walk it, and take my dog out there. I once did a 12-hour walk on that trail with my phone on airplane mode — just me, the river, and my thoughts. It nearly killed my feet, but it was one of the best resets I’ve ever had.

There’s a Neighborhood for Almost Every Lifestyle

One thing I really appreciate about the region is how many different lifestyle pockets you can choose from:

• Walkable, urban feel: Midtown and Downtown Sacramento, parts of East Sacramento. Older homes, tree-lined streets, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops within walking distance.
• Suburban with strong schools and newer homes: Roseville, Rocklin, Folsom, parts of Elk Grove. Lots of shopping, parks, and newer construction.
• Luxury and foothill living: El Dorado Hills, El Dorado County, Placerville, and similar areas with views, custom homes, and quick access to the mountains.
• Space, mature trees, and larger lots: Fair Oaks, Carmichael, parts of Orangevale.
• More rural and land: Parts of Lincoln, Auburn, Colfax, and other outlying areas.

A lot of metro areas are mostly just one thing: either very urban or very suburban. Greater Sacramento gives you choices, as long as you’re clear on what you value and what you’re willing to pay for.

Should You Move to (or Stay in) the Sacramento Area?

The real answer is: it depends on your “why.”

Ask yourself:

• Are you moving from the Bay because you’re priced out and want more space for your money?
• Are you moving from another state for a specific job opportunity?
• Are you moving for lifestyle — mountains, lakes, rivers, four seasons with mild winters?

If you’re coming from Texas or the Midwest, our costs will feel high. If you’re coming from San Jose or San Francisco, our prices often feel like a relief. Affordability is relative.

Your commute matters too. If you work in downtown Sacramento and buy in Lincoln just to save on the purchase price, that 45+ minute commute each way (on a good day) will wear you down. The “cheaper” house won’t feel cheaper when it’s costing you time, gas, and energy daily.

How to Decide If Greater Sacramento Is the Right Fit

Here’s how I’d approach the decision if we were sitting at a coffee shop together planning your move:

1. Get clear on your priorities. Do you need top-rated schools? A big yard? Walkability? A short commute? Access to nature? All of these will point you toward different pockets.
2. Be honest about trade-offs. Every place has them. You’re trading something (maybe higher housing costs) for something else (location, weather, job options, etc.).
3. Research specific neighborhoods, not just cities. Citrus Heights, Folsom, Elk Grove, Sacramento — each has areas that feel very different from each other.
4. Visit at different times of day. Drive through on a Saturday morning and again on a weekday at 6 p.m. Notice traffic, noise, and overall vibe.

If you have kids, don’t just look at district ratings. Sacramento City Unified may be a “C-” overall, but there are still excellent schools inside that district. Placer County shows up as an “A,” but even there some schools are stronger than others. Use tools like greatschools.org, read parent reviews, visit campuses if you can, and layer that with local insight.

Building Community When You Move Here

A big question I hear is: “If I move to Sacramento, how do I make friends?”

My honest answer: you have to put yourself out there a bit, but it’s very doable.

• Follow your interests. I’m into classic cars, and I’ve met a ton of great people through car shows, cruise nights, and car clubs.
• Dogs help. Dog parks, river trails, and neighborhood walks are a natural way to talk to people. Dog people tend to talk to dog people.
• Use local groups and apps. There are walking groups, hiking groups, meetup groups, fitness classes, and more.
• If you have kids, plug into school events and sports. It’s one of the easiest ways to meet other families.

Different neighborhoods have different personalities, but in general people here are friendly. Neighbors wave. People say hi. Community doesn’t magically appear, but if you make a bit of effort, it’s hard not to find your people.

What You Can Control (And What You Can’t)

After 49 years here and 23 years as a broker, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is this:

You can’t control traffic, politics, or state policies. You can control where you live, how you spend your time, and who you surround yourself with.

Greater Sacramento has changed a lot. It’s bigger, busier, and more expensive than it used to be. At the same time, it still offers an incredible mix of outdoor access, variety of neighborhoods, and the ability to be at the river, in the foothills, in wine country, or at the coast without getting on a plane.

It won’t be the right fit for everyone. But if you’re thoughtful about your “why,” clear about your trade-offs, and willing to do the homework, it might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Thinking About Moving In or Out of Greater Sacramento?

Whether you’re considering relocating to Sacramento or you’re already here and wondering if it’s time to cash out and move on, I’m happy to be a straight-shooting resource.

Call or text me at (916) 425-5786 and we can talk through your situation, your goals, and whether this area truly fits what you want next.

Again, this is Jake DaRosa with The DaRosa Real Estate Team. I’ve helped hundreds of families move into and out of the Sacramento area. Some leave and love their new chapter. Many stay and never look back. My goal is simple: help you make the right move for you.